Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-08

nappts
.Nopscnsel'' exclaimed Miss Lay.
"Didn'f say we were all fun Of envY
and jealousy You are not really vexed
with me, are you. Milly? You still
count me as your best friends
Until YOU prove an enemy" said
Mildred, lightly, not answering the
first question.
Miss Lay was little vain, a little
shallow. and yet not bad at heart, and
when she parted with Mildred that
morning she had not the smallest idea
OF the sting her thoughtlcss words had
left behind
Alone, Mildred asked herself for the
first time in her life how it was posi-
bic that she had ever tolerated the
young girl who had just left In her
present state of mind it seemed prepos-
ferrous that she should have entertained
even the slightest feeling of friendship
for such creature. She remembered
with feeling Of seIf-contempt that I'M
I'll now she had looked upon Lizzie Law
as her warmest and truest friend. yet
why should ! worry over the senseless
chatter Of a silly, frivolous girip'' she
asked herself, as she went back to her
pretty room, and taking book. sat
down by the window to read, and the
first thing her ewes fell upon was the
words 'From John TO Helen,r written
in her husbands bold hand on the fiy-
leaf.
''Her bookr' she said, feeling sud-
den pang of jealous pain for which she
could hardly have accounted, and al
most unanimously she laid the book
aside.
They had been school mates, Mildred
Lawson and Lizzie Lay; had spent their
common vacation together, either at
Mildred's home, or in the pretty little
western town where Lizzie resided. II
was at the latter's home that Mildred
had formed the acquaintance of John
Vernon, and after short courtship
consented to become his wife. It was
matter of much surprise to NJ ldred' q
friends when it became . settled fac:
that she was to marry Mr.. Vernon.
Knowing her strong aversion to Wild
overs. and her rather eccentric notions
upon the subject OF marriage, it is not
strange that many wondered at her
choice. though it is quite probable that
envy was at the bottom of much of the
gossip. For years mothers had schem-
ed and planned, and daughters had
worn their sweetest smiles, in order to
captivate John Vernon, but he had
been proof against all until he met Mil
dred Lawson. Then those who had
concluded that he would never marry
again were obliged to acknowledge
| that, however faithful he had seemed
to be to the memory of his dead wife,
he was certainly deeply in love with
Mildred
| Mildred had been wife four months
quite long enough to begin to realize
| that marriage meant something more
than beautiful home over which nc
shadow would ever fail, and husband
who would always be blind to hel
faults; and perhaps she would have
realized it sooner had it not been thai
Immediately after her marriage she had
been hurried into vortex of gaiety
visiting and sightseeing. which left mel
I no time for reflection. So she had CON
| tinued to view life. married life at least
| through rose-colored spectacles. unit
Mss Lays visit. two days after the
( home coming. Then it seemed that hel
eyes were suddenly opened to the fact
1 that. as John Vernon wife, she woulc
/ BE- constantly reminded in hundree
different ways. that not only WAS sht
I her husbands second choice. but tina
she occupied the second place in hi:
| heart.
Il should have thought of all til.
before consented to marry him. she
| told her self bitterly. her eyes wander
ing, in spite of herself. to the portrait
on the wall. '.Anl yet he might have
7 spared me the pain of finding some
/ thing every day to remind me of her. .
she added, with childish unreasonable
ness, forgetting that only little while
| ago she had protested that il was hel
wish that nothing should be changed
about the house. John should no
have married such foolish, jealous
! hearted girl, she unused. with sudder
revulsion of feeling, rs she drummet
/ dismally on the window-pane, agains
which heavy rain had commenced tC
| patter. The dav was dark and gloomy
! quite in keeping with her disma
I thoughts, though only this morning
( she had called herself the happiest wo
man in the world. How true it is thai
/ the veriest trities make up the sum o
! human happiness or woe! because o
few careless words. spoken in hal
/ jest. Mildred wandered almlessly from
room to room. torturing herself with
hundred perplexing questions, unit
I brain and heart alike ached. and sht
was at last forced to lie down and sol
herself to sleep.
/ Sha woke with n suiIaut Sfart who,
/ the door opened two hours later an
her husband came in.
/ Have you headache HelenF' b
asked, with much concern. coming owe
to the sofa and seating himself besld
| her.
For the first time in her life his wifi
repulsed him coldly.
MY name is Mildred, please remem
Der y she said, CURLY. sitting up quit
straight, while the sudden rush of no
| blood to her face as suddenly receded
! leaving her as pale as death.
I'm sorry l blundered, Vernoi
said, trying 10 draw her face down t
his shoulder. Are YOU angry with me
/ dear 81
Il suppose it is quite useless for M
to be angry at what shall very liket
have to endure every day of my life nov
that We are at home where You have ST
| much to remind you of-of-the past
said Mildred. averting her tear-stsine,
face. and Withdrawing from his arms
Vernon sighed. then bit his lip fierce
| ~, to keep back an angry retort
Mildred" he said. after gloom,
Silencn ..if they annoy Won | will havi